With the costs of checked bags going up it’s most important than ever to know how to pack lightly. It can save you money, (and your back when you’re hauling your bag around a city or airport) and even help you avoid theft.
Even seasoned travellers have trouble deciding what to pack, especially when you have limited space.
So here are a few tips to make it a bit easier and to ensure you don’t leave anything important behind!
Check the weather forecast – You can’t predict what the weather, but it’s important to at least get a sense of what to expect. More than once, I’ve started to toss clothes into a bag without even checking what’s happening weather-wise. A quick look will let you know how likely you are to need that bulky coat or extra swimsuit.
Check the weather forecast to ensure you pack the right clothes.
Plan around your itinerary – You also want to make sure you pick items based on your planned activities. Will you be walking around a city all day or hiking one day and kayaking the next? Think about what you’ll be doing and visualize what you would normally wear if you were doing that at home.
Pick versatile clothes – If you need to save on space, it may not be the best time to break out all of your one-of-a-kind pieces. Pick items that you can layer, that you can easily pair with other things or that you can reuse in more than one outfit.
Think about your colours – Similarly, be smart about your colour choices. We don’t want to squelch your personal style, but think about items that you can mix and match. What two tops will go well with your jeans and favourite shoes? What scarf works with more than one outfit?
Pick versatile clothes.
Try new clothes on before you pack – It’s fun to splurge on a new holiday outfit but make sure you really like it and feel comfortable before committing it to your bag. The same goes for items that you have never worn together previously. You’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t work as well as it did in your head.
Lay it all out in front of you – Since I was little, I’ve laid out outfits on the floor along with the accessories and shoes. I still to do this today when packing as it helps me make sure I remember the bits and pieces I often forget, like belts or jewelry.
Plan day by day – Once you have all of your outfits in front of you, start assigning a day to them. You don’t really need to wear it on that day (again, think about your itinerary while you do it) but seeing that you’ve got 8 outfits for a weekend trip will make it easier to cut back.
If you like to have options, keep it simple – It’s nice to have options when you’re travelling, especially in case the weather takes a turn but if you’re going to pack extra of anything, try to limit it to additional tops that match things you’ve already decided on.
Lay it all out in front of you.
Be smart with your accessories – It can be painful for many to limit our accessories, but packing only one (or two) versatile handbags will save you lots of space. Again, see what matches the most items or just pack whichever one you use the most.
Wear bulkier shoes on the plane – If you’ve got sneakers or boots taking up a bit too much luggage real estate, consider wearing them on the plane to make room. It might be annoying at the security line, but at least your bag won’t cost you extra because it’s overweight.
Wear bulkier shoes on the plane.
Layer on the plane – Layering is a great idea when travelling as you might be dealing with a range of temperatures as you move between different climates and of course, on the plane, which is always freezing.
Who can you count on to have the heaviest suitcase in your family? Have any other tips on how to pack lightly? Share it in the comments below!
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